More Reasons to Eat Fish Right Now

by Megan O. Steintrager

on 07/25/13 at 01:00 PM

Even though I am aware of the many benefits of eating fish (as I am sure most people reading this blog are), this headline from the most recent issue of the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter still grabbed my attention: "People Who Eat More Fish Live Longer." The article cites a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that linked consuming omega-3s from fish not just to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease but also to lower mortality. As we noted in Doable Challenge #2: Boost Omega-3s for Heart Health, fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, herring, and freshwater trout, provide the largest amounts of omega-3s.

Salmon -- particularly wild salmon -- is one of the very best sources of omega-3s, and, as David Tanis noted in The New York Times last month, wild salmon is also in season and available fresh from May to October, meaning now is a great time to cook it. Its rich flavor means it doesn't need much in the way of seasoning -- I cooked some last week with no more than a bit of olive oil before I put it on the grill and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving and it tasted like I'd dressed it in butter. Below are five easy, summery recipes for salmon, just in case you need more reasons to eat fish now.